Daily Archives: December 1, 2015

When it comes to global greenhouse gas emissions, livestock are one of the worst offenders. The cattle industry is trying to get a grip on how to reduce its carbon footprint, and some believe that getting animals away from feedlots and back to pasture is the answer. Grant Gerlock of Harvest Public Media reports.

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We’re broadcasting live from Paris, France, diplomats, heads of states and climate negotiators are beginning the second day of negotiations for the 21st United Nations Climate Change Summit. Monday, nearly 150 heads of state gathered here in Paris for what organizers called the largest-ever gathering of its kind.

Outside the COP21 facilities, protests continued to be banned across France. French President François Hollande has condemned the protests over the weekend, calling it “scandalous” that they would protest at the Place de la Republique, even though Democracy Now! original video footage shows the police, not the protesters, were the ones to trample on the flowers and candles commemorating the November 13 attacks.

François Hollande: “This is why these protests are not authorized. We knew there would be troublemakers, who by the way have nothing to do with climate activists, or those who want the conference to succeed, and who are there only to create problems. That’s why there were put under house arrest. And it’s doubly unfortunate, I’d even say scandalous, Place de la Republique, where there are all these flowers and also candles placed in memory of those who were killed by the bullets of terrorists.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manuel Valls has confirmed police have raided more than 2,000 homes since France declared a three-month state of emergency following the attacks on November 13.

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Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed the threat of the Islamic State group and the efforts that the United States is taking to defeat them, while speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics. (Dec. 1)

Representatives of nearly 200 countries are in Paris looking to confront a more insidious threat: the rise in global temperatures. Security is tight after terror attacks there earlier this month.

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

International climate talks are underway in Paris this morning. Representatives of nearly 200 countries have gathered there in the shadow of this month’s terror attacks. They’re looking to confront a more insidious threat, the rise of global temperatures. President Obama arrived in Paris last night and addressed the climate talks today.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: To say that the United States of America not only recognizes our role in creating this problem; we embrace our responsibility to do something about it.

WERTHEIMER: NPR’s Scott Horsley is traveling with the president and joins us now from Paris. Good morning, Scott.

SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Good morning, Linda.

WERTHEIMER: So Scott, Obama began his day by meeting privately with Chinese President Xi Jingping in a summit devoted to global warming. These two men are very important.

For two weeks, Paris in a headline has meant the aftermath of terrorism. From today, it means the future of climate change. A huge gathering of world leaders – of the US and China included – is kicking off two weeks of planned public commitment to reining in greenhouse gases. If everything goes perfectly, we’ll still be well short of what’s needed to stave off planetary mayhem – but hopefully on a path. If it falls shorter, the future grows dimmer. Darker. Today, day one, is about hope. This hour, On Point, what’s needed, what’s possible, what’s coming on the climate from Paris.

— Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Robert Stavins, professor of business and government at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program and the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements. (@RobertStavins)

David Sandalow, professor at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy. Former U.S. Undersecretary of Energy.

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Stony Brook University (SBU) oceanography professor and storm surge expert Dr. Malcolm Bowman was interviewed by and provided research data to PBS’ “Nova” for a one-hour documentary special on Sandy that aired November 18, 2012 on PBS in the U.S. and on the BBC in the UK.

In the special, “Nova” showed storm footage and spent time on the question of whether superstorms are becoming more frequent and what can be done to protect coastlines.

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Nova (stylized NOVΛ) is a United States popular science television series produced by WGBH Boston. It is broadcast on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the U.S., and in more than 100 other countries.[1] The series has won many major television awards.[2]

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Welcome….

Welcome to Transition Studies. To prosper for very much longer on the changing Earth humankind will need to move beyond its current fossil-fueled civilization toward one that is sustained on recycled materials and renewable energy. This is not a trivial shift. It will require a major transition in all aspects of our lives.
This weblog explores the transition to a sustainable future on our finite planet. It provides links to current news, key documents from government sources and non-governmental organizations, as well as video documentaries about climate change, environmental ethics and environmental justice concerns.
The links are listed here to be used in whatever manner they may be helpful in public information campaigns, course preparation, teaching, letter-writing, lectures, class presentations, policy discussions, article writing, civic or Congressional hearings and citizen action campaigns, etc. For further information on this blog see: About this weblog. and How to use this weblog.